and my dad taught me that early on.

journalist Douglas McGray coined the phrase Japans Gross National Cool in Foreign Policy.His teaching reflects that conviction.

But he warns against the culture of binge consumption.Discovering Japan and Asian AmericaRaised in suburban Northern California.but the familys environment was more shaped by a vague California Orientalism.

If you wanted to see cool moviesIf you wanted to see cool movies.

he spent five years in Asagaya haunting theaters and watching films that were then inaccessible abroad

you know?Rafu: What was the purpose of the NSU when you founded it?Ken: In terms of trying to identify what our initial foundational purposes were.a coalition of local Japanese restaurants.

emphasized the importance of local businesses coming together in times of crisis.Pictured from left: Yamato Miura.

CEO of Hearts of Lavender; Rianna Rizzuto.and we want to support them in any way we can.